Flexible container and applier



. 1934- K. H. BERGSTROM ET AL 1,979,213

FLEXIBLE CONTAIN ER AND APPLIER Filed Nov. 25, 1952 Inventors b 4 64404. att mq Patented Oct. 30, 1934 UNITED STATES FLEXIBLE CONTAINER ANDAPPLIER Kenneth H. Bergstrom,

Lawrence, Melrose, Rubber Company,

An tion of Massachusetts Andover, and George L.

Mass., assignors to Tyer dover, Mass, at corpora- Application November25, 1932, Serial No. 644,200

2 Claims.

Our present invention is a novel and improved combined flexiblecontaining and applying or spreading device.

Our invention is primarily intended for use as a self-filling, holding,and spreading or applying device for liquids such as glue, mucilage,paste, ink, disinfectants, cosmetics, dental cream, or the like. Wecarry out our invention by providing a flexible bulb-like member,preferably of rubber, and with a neck formed in the contour of anapplying or spreading surface. Thus, the device can be immersed with theneck applied into the liquid to be contained in the bulb, the bulbdeflated, and thereupon released, and the resiliency of the flexiblebulb will draw up a mass of liquid in the well-known self-fillingmanner. With the bulb thus filled, it may be rested or stood upright,and the small neck will normally keep the air from seriouslydeteriorating the contents, although a stopper or plug can be used, ifdesired.

Furthermore, with the form and contour of our novel and improvedflexible container, same will be non-spilling and self-righting. Inaddition to the form including a circumferential rim and the contour ofthe bottom portion to effect the self-righting, the weight of thecontents aids in this action. When it is desired to utilize thecontents, the device is partially inverted, the spreading surfaceapplied, and a drawing action will effect the spreading of the contents,a slight pressure on the bulb regulating the flow of the contents. Thusin applying and spreading mucilage, for example, a small or large amountcan readily be applied by the pressure of the operator on the bulb. Whenin use for ink, such as employed in stencils, or the like, aconsiderable variation in the quantity desired for the stencil can bereadily regulated, whether on a smooth or on a rough and whollyabsorbent surface, pressure on the bulb instantly affecting the quantitybeing applied.

When in use for dental tooth paste, or similar facial applications orcosmetics, the device can remain standing upright and a slight pressurewill extrude the desired quantity.

Preferably we make our device of vulcanized rubber, of any suitablecolor or finish desired.

Referring to the drawing illustrating a pre ferred embodiment of theinvention,

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of our device;

Fig. 2 is illustrative of the method of filling, and

Fig. 3 illustrates the positionwhen applying the contents to anysurface.

As shown in the drawing, our flexible container 1 has a bulb portion 2,and a neck 3. Preferably, the bulb portion 2 is also formed with abottom rim 4 on which the device may stand when in right-side-upposition. Owing to the shape and contour and the fact that the contentsare within the bulb near the base, the normal tendency of the filleddevice will be to seat itself upon the rim 4 even when tilted at eitherside, thus effecting a self-righting action.

A rim 5 normally formed in the process of manufacture of the rubberarticle may also be enlarged to afford a non-slipping hand-hold and astop to prevent the bulb from rolling over too far if laid on its side.Preferably we form the neck 3 with a spreading or applying surface 10 inslanting position relatively with the vertical axis of the device, andthe inner walls or surface 9 will open into the spreading surface 10through a narrow neck 11. A plug or stopper 12 may be supplied ifdesired although the narrow neck 11 will normally protect the contentsfrom evaporation or deterioration therethrough.

As shown in Fig. 2, the device can readily be filled by inverting thesame and deflating the bulb, as illustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 2,with the neck and opening 11 immersed in the fluid, liquid, paste,mucilage, or the like which it is desired shall be filled in thecontainer. As herein shown, a standard type of inkwell 15 is illustratedcontaining a quantity of ink 16, which will be transferred to the deviceby first deflating the bulb, as shown, and then releasing the same,effecting a self-filling or sucking action by barometric pressure, aswill be readily understood. The device is then stood on the rim 4 untilit is desired to use the same, whereupon the bulb is partly inverted andthe spreading surface 10 applied to the surface 18 to which the contentsare to be transferred.

Our device is extremely simple and eflicient in construction and use, isreadily applicable for many articles, in fact, almost any liquid orplastic compound is equally eflicient in the spreading or deliveringaction, irrespective of the quality of the contents, and is reusableindefinitely.

We claim:

1. A flexible self-filling, containing, and applying device comprising aflexible bulb-like portion, a tapered integral neck and a spreadingsurface, said neck having a tapered opening through said spreadingsurface, and the bulblike portion and neck being formed and weighted bythe contents so as to effect a self-righting action if inclined.

2. A flexible self-filling, containing, and applying device comprising aflexible bulb-like portion, a tapered integral neck and a spreadingsurface, said neck having a tapered opening through said spreadingsurface, the bulb-like portion and neck being formed and weighted by thecontents so as to eifect a self-righting action if inclined, and acircumferential rim on said bulb to act as a stop against upsetting.

KENNETH H. BERGSTROM. GEORGE L. LAWRENCE.

